Over the past year thousands of civilians, many of them women and children, have been massacred with unspeakable brutality by armed groups. Most of these massacres have been committed in regions around the capital, Algiers, and often right next to army barracks and security forces posts. Yet, in spite of the victims' cries for help, the sound of gunshots and explosions, and the smoke and flames of burning houses, the security forces have never intervened. The attackers have been allowed to leave every time. Why?
The authorities blame all the massacres on armed groups such as the Armed Islamic Group (GIA). But there are allegations, including some from survivors and families of victims, that some of the massacres were committed by groups acting on the instructions, or with the consent, of certain army and security force units. Victims have included people suspected of links with armed groups and their relatives, and those who had refused to join the militias armed by the state.
These massacres have taken place against a background of increasingly widespread violence and gross human rights abuses committed by the security forces, by armed opposition groups which call themselves "Islamic groups", and, more recently, by militias armed and encouraged by the state. Since the imposition of the state of emergency in 1992, violence has spiralled and the civilian population has found itself increasingly caught up in the conflict and denied state protection.
The international community has failed to take any action to address the plight of the victims. Moreover, when Algerians have attempted to escape death by seeking refuge in western countries, they have often been refused protection by western governments. Recommendations made in September 1997 by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the European Parliament that Algerian asylum-seekers should benefit from international protection have yet to be translated into action.
Words of condemnation and expressions of concern about the Algerian human rights tragedy are not enough. The lack of action has contributed to a climate of impunity for the perpetrators of massacres and other gross human rights abuses. Urgent steps must be taken to ensure that the civilian population in Algeria is given adequate protection and that those responsible for massacres and other abuses - whoever they may be – are brought to justice.
AI has launched a joint appeal with the International Federation for Human Rights, Human Rights Watch, and Reporters Sans Frontieres, calling for an international investigation to be set up to establish the facts, examine responsibilities and make recommendations for a long-term ... plan to end the crisis in Algeria. (Source: Amnesty International News)
